Commentary for Kiddushin 79:3
רב כהנא הוה קמזבין דיקולי תבעתיה ההיא מטרוניתא אמר לה איזיל איקשיט נפשאי סליק וקנפיל מאיגרא לארעא אתא אליהו קבליה אמר ליה אטרחתן ארבע מאה פרסי א"ל מי גרם לי לאו עניותא יהב ליה שיפא דדינרי
Said he to her, 'My heart is faint and I am unable; is there aught to eat? ' She answered him, 'There is unclean food.' 'What am I to deduce from this? '<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [From the fact that there is only unclean food available (Rashi) . Others: 'What does it matter'?]');"><sup>4</sup></span> he retorted: 'that he who commits this [immorality] may eat this.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The former is as heinous as the latter.');"><sup>5</sup></span>
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
In this story, it seems to be R. Kahana’s occupation with baskets that leads him to the dangerous contact with the non-Jewish woman. He is so tempted to have relations with her, that in order to avoid doing so, he attempts to commit suicide. Miraculously, he is saved by Elijah who is none too happy to have to go to the trouble (Elijah seems to fly). But all ends well when R. Kahana is miraculously rescued from poverty.
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